This has made the New York Times bestseller list for good reason. On December 20, 1943, a remarkable incident occurred in the skies over Oldenburg, Germany. It was an event that would not be told to the public until decades after the war.

A Higher Call traces the lives of the two men who ultimately would encounter each other that day. The book is highly readable and incredibly interesting. Unlike many books, it focuses more on the German side of the war. Through the eyes of Franz Stigler, readers will learn about Germany’s elite class of fighter pilots. The perspective is fascinating and well-researched. It is also a poignant reminder of a nation’s folly:

“When Franz looked at Mellman [young pilot], he knew he was looking at Germany’s great tragedy –a generation of innocents too young to have seen the rise of Hitler or The Party who now were forced to pay for their leaders’ sins.”